DETROIT — Rear Seat Reminder, an industry-first feature designed to remind drivers to check the back seat as they exit their vehicles under certain circumstances, will be offered across many Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles by the 2018 model year.

The system monitors rear door usage to remind drivers to check their rear seats before walking away from their vehicles.

Looking for Rear Seat Reminder?

“GM’s Rear Seat Reminder feature is an initial step to use technology to help remind drivers to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle under certain conditions,” said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Vehicle Safety. “We want to help everyone to take one simple, extra step. That’s why Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will offer the Rear Seat Reminder on a broad range of vehicles, from small cars to full-size SUVs and everything in between.”

Thirty-nine children died from heatstroke this year as result of being left in vehicles or gaining access to an unattended vehicle, a 60 percent increase over last year’s figure.

Rear Seat Reminder debuted earlier this year on the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia. Models to offer the feature include those listed below as well as some 2018 vehicles models that will be announced at a later date:

2017 Buick Lacrosse

2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV

2017 Cadillac CT6

2017 Chevrolet Cruze and Cruze Hatchback

2017 Chevrolet Malibu

2017 Chevrolet Tahoe

2017 Chevrolet Suburban

2017 Chevrolet Silverado

2017 Chevrolet Colorado

2017 GMC Yukon

2017 GMC Yukon XL

2017 GMC Sierra

2017 GMC Canyon

2018 Cadillac XT5

2018 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V

2018 Cadillac ATS

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

The Rear Seat Reminder works by monitoring the vehicle’s rear doors. The feature is intended to activate when either rear door is opened and closed up to 10 minutes before the vehicle is started or while the vehicle is running. Once the system is activated, the vehicle is designed to sound five chimes and display a message in the driver information center that reads “Rear Seat Reminder / Look in Rear Seat” the next time the vehicle is turned off.

“This new technology developed by General Motors will give busy parents and caregivers the important reminder to always check the back seat,” said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “The safest way to protect a child from heatstroke is to never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, and features like Rear Seat Reminder, coupled with continued public education, can help combat this preventable tragedy.”

The feature cannot actually detect items in the back seat, so it is always important to check the rear seat prior to exiting the vehicle.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Is it weird that a Jesus-type figure appears the TV (in the upper left corner) at this exact moment?

Stories of a flat, human-like creature that appears half man and half cardboard have existed in various parts of the world for many centuries. In fact, the only continent not to have stories of “cardboard men” is Antarctica.

Flat Armando never could say “No” to those puppy dog eyes.

The most common explanation for Flat Armando sightings is that people are playing pranks. There was even once a thriving market for “Flat Armando cutouts” to trick your family and friends. People still even dress up in Flat Armando costumes in order to perpetuate the legend.

Flat Armando-on the outside looking in.

Some sightings are also simply misidentified animals. In 2007, a photo was snapped in Pennsylvania using an automatically triggered camera hanging from a tree. While believers claimed the blurry photo—showing a flat, cardboard creature standing on two feet—was that of a “juvenile Flat Armando,” the Pennsylvania Game Commission said the creature was most likely “a bear with an extreme case of mange.”

Flat Armando seems to have some sort of supernatural/hypnotic power that literally stuns and partially paralyzes humans.

The actual Flat Armando made a rare appearance at a nearby restaurant a few weeks ago and astonished locals with his open & friendly demeanor. Everyone thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

But, in an unforeseen development, Flat Armando seems to have formed some sort of primal attachment to our Parts Department Manager, Paul Smith. He mysteriously showed up again at our Christmas party and hung around his favorite Parts Manager all evening. Perhaps, Paul reminds him of his father or a lost sibling. In any event, the attraction/bond between the two seems to grow stronger the more alcohol they consume together.

Then, with the evening’s festivities over, Flat Armando disappeared into the darkness but his presence in Paul’s heart remains strong and bright. Will we ever see him again? Only time will tell…

Chevrolet will complete the transformation of its crossover and SUV lineup with the introduction of the next-generation Traverse on January 9 at the North American International Auto Show.

DETROIT — Chevrolet will complete the transformation of its crossover and SUV lineup with the introduction of the next-generation Traverse on Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show.

The all-new Traverse features a bold and refined design with seating for up to eight passengers. It’s expected to offer the segment’s best third-row legroom and maximum cargo space.

Premium interior and exterior design cues and new technologies abound, including available exclusive D-Optic headlamps that provide a natural daylight effect with a seamless light quality.

The 2018 Traverse will be Chevrolet’s latest crossover/SUV offering, joining the 2017 Bolt EV and Trax, the 2018 Equinox revealed in September and the full-size Tahoe and Suburban.

“Nobody in the industry offers a broader, fresher lineup of SUVs and crossovers than Chevrolet,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America and brand chief of Global Chevrolet. “From the all-electric Bolt EV to America’s longest-running nameplate, Suburban, we’ve got something for every customer and lifestyle.”

Did you know that you can safely send and receive texts from behind the wheel of your car, truck or suv? If you have a newer Chevrolet and a compatible smartphone, staying in touch while driving has never been simpler. Danny Cardinal show us how easy it is to stay plugged in.

Buying a new or used vehicle here is an enjoyable, no-hassle experience. Our Chevrolet product specialists will exceed your expectations before, during and after the sale.

We are a recently renovated (family-owned) Chevy dealership located in Aurora, IL near Plainfield, Naperville and Oswego. Other nearby towns include Bolingbrook, Joliet, Sugar Grove, Elburn and Yorkville.

We are a full service dealership with an extended-hours Service department. Our Parts & Accessories department is large and well-stocked. Visit us today…Oil Changes do not require an appointment.
Service/Parts is open daily 7-7 and 8-4 on Saturdays. Can’t stick around? No problem! Ask about our FREE current model year service loaners.*

Ron Westphal Chevy is very popular with Chicago, IL residents due to our massive new, GM Certified and pre-owned inventory. And, we are less than 1 hour away from anywhere in the Windy City.

Looking for a vehicle that you can text in? Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

Thanks to Danny Cardinal for starring in this how to text video!

*Must be 25 years or older with a valid driver’s license. See a Ron Wespthal Chevy service writer for complete details and qualifications.

Remote start your Silverado on a snowy day, lock your compatible Malibu from an airplane, set parking reminders for your Cruze or view diagnostic information with a single tap. Your phone has never been so versatile.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is a recently renovated Chevy dealership located in Aurora, IL minutes away from Plainfield, Naperville and Oswego. We are also very popular with Chicago resident due to our massive selection of new and used vehicles and excellent customer service.

Bruce Springsteen’s iconic ’57 Chevy is up for auction on eBay—but you need to be pretty wealthy to afford it. As of this writing, bidding is above $200,000, and the reserve price still hasn’t been met. That’s quite an increase from the $2,000 The Boss spent on the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible back in 1975, but consider the history: According to the auction listing, Springsteen wrote some of his songs while in the car; the rocker mentioned the car in his autobiography; and, as the Asbury Park Press notes, the car was pictured in both Time and Newsweek features on Springsteen. He ultimately sold the flame-covered convertible in 1976 because it drew too much attention to him; it last changed hands in 2011, when it sold for $468,000.

Springsteen’s ’57 Chevy is for sale

Looking for something a little newer? Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in beautiful Aurora, IL. We offer a massive selection of new and pre-owned Chevy vehicles.

New Look for NHRA Pro Stock Camaro SSGen Six bodywork takes to the drag strip in 2017, chasing repeat Pro Stock title

New Look for NHRA Pro Stock Camaro SS

INDIANAPOLIS – The Gen Six Chevrolet Pro Stock Camaro SS makes its public debut at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis on Thursday, Dec. 8. Want something you can drive on the street? Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL.

The new model builds on the success of the championship-winning fifth-generation-based race car. It’s more athletic-looking and aerodynamically optimized bodywork draws its styling from the Gen Six Chevrolet Camaro SS.

“Our goal was to minimize aerodynamic drag within the NHRA guidelines and incorporate as many design cues from the production car,” said John Mack, Chevrolet Camaro exterior design manager. “The result is a sleeker and more aerodynamic Camaro SS.”

The new race car makes its competition debut this February in Pomona, Calif., at the kickoff event for the 2017 NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series.

Chevrolet Pro Stock Camaro drivers won 23 of 24 events in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Jason Line won eight events, capturing his third world title — and the third straight championship for Chevrolet. Runner-up Greg Anderson won eight events in a Camaro SS race car.

Track testing with the 2017 Pro Stock Camaro SS begins later this month.

In addition to the new Pro Stock Camaro SS, Chevrolet’s 2017 COPO program offers specialty race cars designed for NHRA’s Stock Eliminator classes, and earlier this fall Chevrolet announced a drag racing development program for production-based Camaro models.